IamA (honest) police officer! AMA!

how many times a week does your captain tell you to turn in your badge and you have to go rouge to solve the case and then have an epic shoot out and become the hero get the girl and a promotion keep it up and you will be section chief

Here's a weird question. I once read a while ago, a lawyer broke down Jay-Z's "99 Problems" lyrics. There's a line that says, "My glove compartment is locked, so is the trunk in the back, I know my rights, you're gonna need a warrant for that...". Is it true if it requires a key to be opened that you need a warrant to search it?

Keep your criminal activity to minor traffic violations. Even then, keep them few and far between. If you've done bad things but haven't been caught, do NOT lie about it when given your polygraph test. Departments don't want to knowingly hire liars. It works against your testimony in court. Be honest. No matter what it is.

Thank you. I will keep all that in Mind when i apply. Also, does family history come into play? My dads a real dick and the police around here didn't exactly like him before he moved. How would this influence my chances?

A lot of officers share the same sentiment that small amounts of pot shouldn't be criminalized. Now, if you're smoking and driving, that's another story. In my state, you'll be going to jail for DUI. Keep in mind that the scent of mj is justification to search your vehicle. If you only have a small amount, I'll confiscate it and write you the ticket that I originally stopped you for.

I recently saw a video where a guy got stopped at a DUI random check point. Yes, he was deliberately filming to make a point. He was polite but declined to lower his window more than a little for the officer. The officer then asked for permission to search his vehicle. Again he declined. They then said they would have a dog sniff his car. As the officer got the dog near the window he said something to it and the dog scratched the glass. The filmer later pointed out that the dog didn't sniff at all, which we saw on tape. He said this is how they gain entry to your car without probable cause. Have you ever used this trick, or heard of it being used?

I saw that video as well. Those officers were completely wrong. But, also, the guy filming was not exactly truthful either.

The subject was right in that he did not have to exit his vehicle, roll his window down or allow it to be searched. That does, however, make most any LEO (law enforcement officer) suspicious. He claimed the dog purposely scratched his car and that the K9 officer gave commands to make the dog act as though there was something in the car. Wrong. When the officer says "here" or "check here," that's exactly what the dog is doing. Just checking.

When the officers used the dog's normal behavior to justify entering and searching the vehicle, that's when they should be kissing their jobs goodbye.

I've never used that "trick". I've never seen or heard of it being used in my department. However, it's clearly being used in others and it's nothing short of deplorable.

I've watched reality cop shows down south where it's the norm to get out of your car and walk toward the officer. Where I'm from, that's no no. You're going to get yelled out and potentially have a gun drawn on you. I don't see the sense in making a subject exit the vehicle. That brings in too many variables that you just can't prepare for. Departments who make this their SOP seriously need to reevaluate.

Explain this more, it makes more sense to me that if someone is inside a car they could be hiding anything, whereas if they walk to the trunk of their own car you can see what they're about and if their hands are free of weapons.

Also, if someone did this and later they explained that they're foreign and didn't know any better, could they still get in trouble?

When they're in the car, you can see them squirming, reaching, moving, etc. That automatically heightens your awareness. When they're out and moving, they could have them a gun on them that makes it easier to pull, small knifes or blades, they could run...just way too much going on that puts the officer at a disadvantage. If I see a guy squirming in his seat, I'm drawing my gun and demanding hands go on the wheel. If they don't, then it's show time. If they're out and draw a gun then, well, I hope I draw quicker than they do.

As for foreign/unaware people, I just tell them to get back in their vehicle. Non english-speakers generally understand when I point to their vehicle.

Some guy in a dept store had a hard on. He went to the women's clothing section and would intermittently shake it to keep it hard. Not AT anyone, just cuz he was in the clothing section. Pretty funny. He was wearing tight spandex shorts.

When I stopped a guy that was high on meth and was being ambiguous about whether or not he had a gun in his car. That was the first time my asshole puckered a little tighter. I was also only three days off of break in. Didn't know shit.

I would have handled it COMPLETELY differently today. Not many days go by where I don't wish I for a mulligan on that one. It's also the first time my job made me call home to my kids to tell them I love them.

Stuck my gun in his face, opened his door for him and told him to get the fuck out of the car. Your attitude changes the more experience you get. Instead, there were questions of "should I draw?" "Should I get him out?" "What if he's not high (even though I "knew" he was)?" Stuff like that.

They do sound stupid. I don't get sick of them. I think they're funny and they make me laugh. I had one asked me if I wanted some donuts while driving by one time. I told them I get off at 2300 and would prefer them to be warm.

Where I live there is a Dunkin Donuts right up the street of the spot that Cops like to congregate when not on a call, I have been tempted in the past to go get a dozen donuts and bring them to the cars, do you think the Cops would take offense to this?

I'll give you an example: here in a major city they started training cops to communicate and detext a person with communication difficulties because sometime they are mistaken for mentally ill and can be agitated when a uneducated (on those matters)cop comes interrogating them.

Yes. Communication skills, culture diversity training and maybe a little more health training. I've seen officers arrest someone for "resisting" when really, they were having a diabetic attack and couldn't respond.

Was he right in shooting Martin? I believe so. Was he right in doing the things that led up to the shooting? No. Can't convict stupidity. Should he have been tried for maybe manslaughter or involuntary manslaughter? Definitely. I love stand your grand laws, but that doesn't give ordinary citizens the right to take matters into their own hands.

Just a regular patrol officer. Traffic unit cops are the ones you see running radar on the side of the road. They are there strictly for traffic code enforcement and don't answer (usually) other calls for service such as burglaries, assaults, etc.

Also, another question if you don't mind. I want to become a K-9 unit officer, because let's admit, those guys are pretty awesome (not saying you're not awesome), but how difficult is it to become one? Have you ever thought of becoming one?

It's very difficult. Highly competitive. I actually wouldn't want to do K9 even though the job is pretty badass. I want to do robbery investigations. It's one of the few crimes committed where the victim is actually a victim. Crimes against children would be something else I'd like to get into.

I've only seen a sign that said that once. And by an airport. I don't imagine they would have a dedicated plan circling an airport. Plus, it sounds expensive as hell and they'd have a hard time getting vehicle/plate info. I'm gonna say: Scam.

I'm from Denmark and pulling the gun here is very, very rare. Do you see American police officers as "trigger happy" or/and that they enjoy the power it provides? What is your view on this? Is the gun move always necessary? Are there situations where you thought "Okay, pulling the gun here might not have been the smartest decision"?

I wouldn't say we're trigger happy, but it's definitely a different culture than you have, I'm sure. I've never pulled my gun out and second guessed myself later. The gun can go in the holster as fast as it came out.

That's it for the AMA. I need to have a beer and watch a stupid horror movie. It's been fun, even for those I didn't necessarily agree with. Hope I provided info and insight. Have a good night, reddit!

In an earlier question about small amounts of pot, you said you would confiscate the small amount and write a ticket for the reason they were pulled over. I was once told that if a cop confiscates any type of illegal substance without making an arrest, the cop is then in possession of that illegal substance. Is this true ? What do you do with stuff you confiscate without making an arrest ?

How much can I really speed and get away with? From you, and from people you know, and from your experience?

Also how do I avoid getting a ticket for going ~9-11 over? I usually shoot for 10 over, I realize 9 over is safer because of brackets, but I'm just hedging my bets that a cop wont pull me over for 10 over when that's pretty much what most of the road is doing, give or take.

You're using terminology (brackets) that I'm honestly not familiar with. I don't pull anyone over for speeding unless it's 11mph or more. Most officers do 10. If you're pulled over when you're seemingly going just as fast as everyone else, you're the unlucky one.

I don't get tired of them. Those people need help. And we provide it, even if it's just getting the abuser away from the victim. Now, the repeated cases, those bother me. People are scared to change their lives for the better.

I think if you read my comment where the person asked about weed in the vehicle, you can see I'm pretty understanding. Understanding people don't seem to be dishonest. Also, I've had thousands of dollars worth of property in my possession, some of which I recovered on my own, and have not had a single thing go missing.

I was threatened with a reprimand if I did not change a report to suit a sergeant's desires. These changes would have contradicted what actually happened. I refused. There was no reprimand when I told him I'd go to our chief about it.

1) haven't come across an officer who as acted like that. It's not the norm, honestly.

2) I treat them the same as anyone: with respect and not violate their constitutional rights. If I was in that officer's position, "No, you don't need to roll your window all the way down as long as we can hear each other. No, you're not being detained. Yes, you're free to go." Without harassment.

I also, am going in to Law Enforcement. (my school entitles it LEJA) LEJA will be my major with a double minor in Homeland Security and Envr. Science. I might possibly go for a double major, and make Homeland Sec a major along my LEJA, any advice for school, internships, future jobs, or anything? Thanks for your time and thanks for protecting and serving!

My Dad has been a police officer for around 20 years now, and he has some very strange dreams and thinks it is because of his years on the force. Do you or anyone you work with experience very, and I mean very unusual dreams?

I'm just about done with my BA in Psychology, I was a Fire Cadet for over a year, I've worked in Government for the past few years and have a valid finger print clearance card. I took a few courses at my CC in LE a couple of years ago before pursuing Psych and really enjoyed it. My only concern is, I've smoked multiple times over the past few years. Would it be even worth taking the polygraph? It's the only drug I've done, and minus a couple of speeding tickets have a clean record. Any advice?

As of right now the last time was 6 months ago, I don't mind giving it more time as I've still got 2 semesters of school left and am employed. What would you recommend out of curiosity? I looked on a local pd site and they didn't say anything about it specifically

Say you respond to a DV call. There are two males involved, one much older than the other, both adults. The younger has a very bloodied nose and mouth the older has a slight scratch on his shoulder. The older is about twice the size of the younger. The younger is the one who called in claiming he was assaulted. The older claims he was assualted first via the scratch. The younger has neatly trimmed nails with zero blood or other markings. The younger is the leaser on the house and the older is a subleaser through the younger. The younger meets you on the street, with the older still in the house. The younger, in a calm and somewhat collected manner greets you and gives you his story as soon as you approach. He identifies himself and complies thoroughly with all requests. He requests to have the older male removed from the property at the very least.

I heard that police have a unwritten "quota" to do arrest; to show that they are making the public a safer place. On top of that within the police there is also an unwritten threshold, by that I mean your team all tends to arrest fairly the same amount of ppl on average...no one goes "above and beyond" the unwritten limit. This way it won't make members look bad who didn't make the quota...therefore the numbers are always kept at a achievable medium.